Which of the following describes the characteristics of waves?

Waves carry energy without transporting matter is the characteristic that accurately describes the nature of waves. This principle is fundamental to understanding how waves function in various mediums. When a wave travels, it moves energy from one location to another, such as sound waves traveling through air or ocean waves moving across the surface of water. However, the medium itself, such as air or water, does not undergo net displacement in the direction of the wave's travel. Instead, particles in the medium may vibrate or oscillate around their equilibrium positions, allowing energy to propagate through the medium without the actual transfer of matter.

This distinction highlights why options that suggest waves transfer matter or only travel in a straight line do not reflect the true nature of waves. Waves can actually exhibit complex behaviors like bending, refracting, and reflecting, which allows for a variety of wave phenomena, including interference patterns. The ability of waves to create interference patterns demonstrates the superposition principle and the wave nature of light and sound, further emphasizing the characteristics of waves in different contexts.